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Privacy Notice“Oh well, the world could end tomorrow…” For some, the prospect of ‘environmental doom’ is an excuse to pop open another bottle on a school night. But for others, it causes a downward spiral of stress with debilitating depression, anxiety and a feeling of dread affecting every area of their lives. If you’re way past the point of feeling guilty every time you forget to use your Bag For Life, you too could be suffering from Eco Anxiety, a genuine mental health issue that’s on the rise. Around 75% of the UK population feels worried about the impact of climate change, with more women than men stressing about environmental issues. Younger people appear to feel it deeper, with up to one in six reporting an anxiety condition because of ecological issues.
75% of the UK population are worried about climate change
(Image: Getty)
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Emma Oldham, 33, from Newark, began experiencing it for herself in her teen years. “It started when I heard about the hole in the ozone layer,” she says. “The worry triggered severe anxiety and depression, and while my friends were stressed about boyfriends and make-up, I was so overwhelmed about ecological issues I’d cry in bed for days, refusing to eat or wash. It took over my life. My school work meant nothing to me. What was the point of exams if the world was ending?” Emma’s parents tried to reason with her and took her to see a GP, who prescribed anti-depressants. It was a short term solution. “When I went to uni it got worse. I was thinking about ecological issues 24/7,” Emma says. Her feelings of depression and hopelessness were triggered again when she became a mum and worried about how the world would be for future generations. Leadership coach and climate psychologist Linda Aspey says that engaging with eco issues, rather than trying to block out our worries, could be the key to finding peace of mind.
Eco anxiety refers to anxiety caused by a concern for the environment
(Image: Getty)
“It’s great to stay informed, but are you researching online too much? If you find yourself obsessing, or not able to talk about your fears, it’s a sign that you might need to do some self-care,” she says. “Get involved. You don’t have to be glueing yourself to the road in protest – any small contribution where you feel part of a collective cause will help you feel like you’re not alone with your worries.” This is the approach Emma took when she joined a group fighting to save trees from being cut down to make way for a car park extension. “After a long fight, we won,” she says. “Those beautiful trees I’d sat under feeding my babies are still here thanks to our work. Feeling like I can make even the smallest difference has definitely helped keep my anxiety in check.”
Climate psychologist Linda Aspey encourages people to join groups helping the environment
(Image: Getty)
Feeling eco anxious? Linda has five suggestions to help Drop into an eco café: Friends and family may not understand your worries, so meet up and have a chat with people who do. The Climate Psychology Alliance will help you find a Climate Café where you can connect. Visit climatepsychologyalliance.org and click on “Training & Events”. Set yourself an eco challenge: Make positive changes – every little helps. Visit the Couch To Carbon Zero and My Mother Tree websites and join in with a challenge to change your carbon footprint. See couchtocarbonzero.org and mymothertree.com. Read the good news: Break out of “doomscrolling” and make it a habit to find out more about success stories instead. Euronews curates positive stories on its pages and yes, they do exist. See euronews.com/green. Be grateful: Keep notes about the good things in your life – the little eco wins that happen every day and what you appreciate about your world. Talk about it: If you feel that you need to talk to someone specialising in Eco Anxiety about your worries, BACP (British Association For Counselling And Psychotherapy) can help you find a therapist in your area. See bacp.co.uk.
Setting yourself eco challenges can help tackle eco anxiety
(Image: GETTY)
How to avoid doomscrolling Doomscrolling refers to spending an excessive amount of time reading negative news online. “It stems from our negativity bias – a desire for seeking out information to assess danger,” says Linda. “But continually scrolling through bad news can set our hearts and minds racing. It can also become habitual or obsessive. “Limit your time on screen – set a timer. Get your info from a variety of sources. And seek a healthy balance between good and bad news. If you feel anxious when online, check your breathing and your heart rate and stop if you recognise changes. “Ask friends to tell you if you’re spending too long online and avoid doomist chat groups. Get into the “yes/and” habit of acknowledging news: “Yes it’s worrying that we’re losing so many insects and there are organisations taking action to conserve wild spaces.” READ MORE: Click here for today’s top showbiz news Six steps to happiness from taking risks to planning thrills Instant solutions to beat stress within minutes from sky gazing to micro self-care MAFS UK’s Jenna: ‘Zoe wants kids but I’m too worried about their future’ Get exclusive celebrity stories and shoots straight to your inbox with OK!’s daily newsletter Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnHealth
